Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/using-conflict-as-a-gift-to-strengthen-relationships/5024466/
No one likes conflict. In fact, most people consider conflict to be a painful impediment to their relationships, both at work and at home. Conflict can take a variety of forms—an argument with a spouse about the dishes, an uncomfortable conversation with a student’s parent, or a defensive meeting with a colleague.
Many of us make choices on a daily basis that avoid, manage, or diffuse conflict by choosing to either overpower the situation to win an argument or go silent to keep the peace. Doing this feels good in the moment because we avoid discomfort and tension, but on a regular basis, it can lead to long-term dysfunction at work and at home.
We believe that conflict is a gift that can be used to strengthen relationships, rather than weaken them. It is not easy, but with some practical tools you will be on your way to embracing conflict within your daily life, school, or child care program.
Dealing with Defensiveness
One of the most common human responses to conflict is defensiveness. We have all been there: in a meeting or a conversation where everything is going well until … well, it is not. Perhaps you are talking ...